Governor Newsom, DOE Under Secretary Crane, Senator Padilla Among Those Marking Historic Investment in Hydrogen Technologies
For Immediate Release Contact: Hayley Carbullido
August 30, 2024 media@archesh2.org
Oakland, Calif. —Today, the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), joined by Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Under Secretary of Infrastructure David Crane and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with other state and national leaders, gathered in Oakland to celebrate their landmark $12.6 billion agreement to build and expand clean energy infrastructure across California.
The half-day event showcased cutting-edge hydrogen-powered transportation projects in Oakland, demonstrating not only what has already been accomplished in California, but what is coming as part of ARCHES’ renewable hydrogen hub. The group traveled in the hydrogen-powered Sea Change Ferry, then on AC Transit and SamTrans hydrogen fuel cell electric buses, to the True Zero Hydrogen Fuel Station, which can support 200 class 8 trucks daily. Eight trucks that currently serve the California market were on display, including heavy duty hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks from Hyundai, Hyzon, Nikola, Toyota, and a hydrogen fuel cell electric refuse truck developed through a partnership between New Way Trucks and Hyzon, and operated by Recology in San Francisco.
“California is building more, faster to accelerate clean energy projects, cut pollution, and deliver good jobs – and we’re doing it at a scale unmatched in America,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, our first-in-the-nation hydrogen hub is quickly becoming reality.”
ARCHES-focused projects will support three essential end-use sectors: medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, ports, and power plants, which are especially difficult to decarbonize using any other existing technologies.
“Clean hydrogen is the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of energy technologies and a solution to decarbonizing the industries we cannot live without,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden and Vice President Harris have developed a modern, industrial strategy to build a clean hydrogen industry here at home—with California and the ARCHES Hydrogen Hub leading the way.”
Each innovative project showcased today highlights the potential of hydrogen fuel cells in decarbonizing these challenging sectors. The Sea Change Ferry demonstrates hydrogen’s capability to sustainably power ocean-going vessels, like the Scripps hydrogen powered research boat being developed as part of ARCHES. At the Port of Oakland, transitioning equipment from diesel to hydrogen power will help significantly improve air quality for dockworkers and nearby communities. Hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks, buses and refueling stations underscore hydrogen’s potential in public transit and goods movement, supporting California’s shift to sustainable transportation.
“California has led the nation with ambitious, innovative goals to combat the climate crisis, and today, we’re showcasing the promise of California’s renewable hydrogen-powered future,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). “From the ports to our state’s population centers to our rural communities, ARCHES will catalyze the clean hydrogen economy in California. I’m glad to have partnered with the Biden-Harris Administration to secure over $1 billion for ARCHES as we take a major step toward achieving our state’s ambitious carbon neutrality goals.”
The ARCHES hub is expected to create over 220,000 well-paying jobs, particularly along major transportation corridors and in underserved communities throughout California. Additionally, it is estimated that by 2030, ARCHES will deliver $2.95 billion in annual healthcare savings due to improved air quality.
“As everyone saw first-hand today, California continues to demonstrate its leadership and innovation in proving out new technologies within the clean energy economy,” said GO-Biz Director and Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, and founding ARCHES Board Member Dee Dee Myers. “We could not be more excited about the future of renewable hydrogen in our state – a future that will see the decarbonization of our economy along with the creation of green jobs and sustainable business at scale for decades to come.”
The technology featured at today’s event, along with the efforts of ARCHES and its partners, highlight California’s ongoing leadership in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving a carbon-neutral economy by 2045. The selected projects are expected to reduce 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, equivalent to removing 5.5 million gasoline-powered cars from the road.
“Today’s launch marks a transformative moment for California’s clean energy future,” said Angelina Galiteva, CEO, ARCHES. “ARCHES is excited and honored to accelerate California’s hydrogen journey, driving innovative projects that will not only establish a thriving clean hydrogen ecosystem but also enable us to decarbonize all sectors of the economy while creating lasting economic, air quality, and environmental benefits for all Californians.”
In the coming months, ARCHES will continue to announce the selected projects, spanning statewide and encompassing the full hydrogen lifecycle, from production to end use. Each project will play a crucial role in advancing the state’s ambitious climate goals, improving system reliability and resilience, empowering communities, creating quality jobs and establishing a sustainable, clean hydrogen ecosystem in California and beyond.
To learn more about California’s clean energy future, visit arches.org.
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About ARCHES: The Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) is a statewide public-private partnership designed to accelerate renewable hydrogen’s contribution to decarbonizing California’s economy. ARCHES brings together state agencies, academia, industry leaders, and community organizations to advance renewable hydrogen technologies and infrastructure.
